The Show Me State standout blasted from the
fifth starting spot to the lead in a single lap and never looked back in the
20-lap feature. He wasn’t seriously challenged en route to earning $1,000
for his first-ever triumph at the half-mile oval.

“There’s two sponsors I have to make sure I
thank for this win: Tom Riech and Paul McKenna,” said Stovall, who drove a
Hoffman Chassis/Yeoman Engines combination. “They foot the bill for this
whole deal. They’re the most important people I have.”

Outside polesitter Tim Hancock of Mt. Olive,
Ill., finished a half-straightaway behind the winner in second after holding
off a late charge by Jason Miller of Osceola, Wis., and NASCAR veteran Ken
Schrader of Fenton, Mo., advanced from the eighth starting spot to nip Mike
Spatola of Manhattan, Ill., for the fourth spot in the final rundown.

Another NASCAR veteran, Kenny Wallace, joined
Schrader in the night’s action. Driving his own JEG’s-sponsored Modified,
Wallace was battling for a position in the top 10 when he spun on lap nine
and was clipped by other cars, ending his bid.

Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., started
from the pole position and led the race’s opening lap, but he dropped out on
the second circuit when smoke billowed from his UMP DIRTcar Modified.

A huge field of 75 UMP DIRTcar Modifieds made
up the opening-night action of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. The drivers
hailed from 17 different states and Canada.

Defending Alltel DIRTcar Nationals UMP DIRTcar
Modified champion Steve Arpin of Fort Frances, Ont., finished third in the
first heat to transfer to the feature, but he didn’t start the headliner. He
suffered burns on the front of his body when a radiator hose blew hot fluid
on him as he worked on his car following the prelim, prompting safety crews
to rush him to a hospital for treatment.

Further details on Arpin’s condition will be
released when available.

Arpin’s scratch elevated Wallace to a
heat-race transfer position.

The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds continue competition
as part of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals every night through Feb. 12.